The Gateway

Ben, please add Ravenface.

May 2025

1. Any Given Sin – Insidious (2023)

2. Cave In – The World Is In Your Way (2005)

3. Clown – Love (2021)

4. DAGames – United We Stand (2016)

5. A Day to Remember – Make It Make Sense (2025)

6. Engine – Fascination Street (2002)

7. Exilia – Stop Playing God (2004)

8. Future Palace – Roses (2022)

9. Gonemage – Crawlspace (2024)

10. Islander – What Do You Gotta Lose? (2022)

11. Lacuna Coil – Zombies (2014)

12. My Ruin – Ready for Blood (2008)

13. Nothing more – Jenny (2013)

14. Puya – Oasis (1999)

15. Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol – Shoo-in (2022)

16. Saint Asonia – Devastate (2022)

17. Sensor – Resistance Now (2009)

18. Toothgrinder – The Shadow (2017)

19. The Urge – Jump Right In (1998)

20. Vexes – Head over Heels (2019)

21. We Butter the Bread with Butter – Alles was ich will (2013)

22. The Wreckage – Breaking Through (2011)

Limp Bizkit - "Chocolate Starfish & the Hot Dog Flavored Water" (2000)

If there's one thing that most of our regulars would know about me by now, it's that I call 'em purely as I see 'em & I don't give a fuck what the general consensus is. I like to make up my own mind about things & won't be swayed by what the cool crowd thinks. With that in mind, this week I decided that I really should have an informed opinion on one of the most successful yet heavily divisive metal acts on the global scene in Florida's Limp Bizkit. I'd never heard a full record by them before as I'd always assumed that they'd be none of my business up until now but, you know what, this shit ain't half bad. These dudes certainly know how to write a catchy hook, how to play their instruments & how to create a throbbing mosh pit anthem.

I was surprised at how many of the fifteen tracks I knew as there was clearly a whole slew of hits taken from this record but it wasn't always the well-known stuff that I found the most appeal in. Another thing that I perhaps wasn't prepared for was just how good a rhythm section Limp Bizkit had at the time, particularly the bass guitar which really drives a lot of this material. I don't think there's any doubt that front man Fred Durst's personality is what turns off most metalheads & I can see why as his message can often be summarized as meathead fodder but his macho posturizing can't disguise the obvious Eminem influence in his whiny rapping which I would suggest comes across as nothing more than tolerable. In fact, the rap component in Limp Bizkit's sound is really significant (perhaps more so than most nu metal bands) & that's usually the element of the subgenre that I struggle with the most but I've somehow managed to overlook it here, despite Durst being one of the more overt exponents of the craft. And once I managed to look past his immature personality to the groove-laden music behind him, I discovered that Limp Bizkit had more creativity in their kit bag than I'd ever given them credit for.

All of the hits are pretty enjoyable to tell you the truth with "My Way" being my pick of the bunch but it's the strength of some of the album tracks that surprised me the most with "The One", "Getcha Groove On", "Boiler" & particularly the outstanding album highlight "Hold On" really getting under my skin. Unfortunately, the album is book-ended by some much weaker material though with opener "Hot Dog" falling victim to Durst's idiocy, the Urban Assault Vehicle version of "Rollin'" being a total mess & the almost ten minute "Outro" track being absolutely pointless & a complete waste of your time. The remainder of "Chocolate Starfish & the Hot Dog Flavored Water" is well worth hearing though & provides further proof that you shouldn't believe everything you read. Perhaps I won't go running out to indulge in the remainder of Limp Bizkit's back catalogue any time soon but I can honestly say that this record isn't any worse than the majority of the subgenre, even if it doesn't compete with Linkin Park or Korn's best work.

For fans of Korn, System of a Down & P.O.D.

3.5/5

Here's my updated Top Ten Nu Metal Releases of All Time list:

01. Linkin Park - "Meteora" (2003)

02. Korn - "Korn" (1994)

03. Slipknot - "Iowa" (2001)

04. Linkin Park - "Hybrid Theory" (2000)

05. Deftones - "Adrenaline" (1995)

06. Korn - "Follow the Leader" (1998)

07. Sevendust - "Animosity" (2001)

08. Dir en Grey - "Uroboros" (2008)

09. Limp Bizkit - "Chocolate Starfish & the Hot Dog Flavored Water" (2000)

10. Slipknot - "Slipknot" (1999)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/313

A 6-minute closing epic revisiting music and lyrics revisiting many of the earlier tracks in the album:

Poppy - "I Disagree" (2020)

My only prior experience with Boston electropop artist Poppy was through her 2021 "EAT" E.P. which I didn't mind so I thought I'd see what her other metal material was like. I feel similarly about "I Disagree" (her fifth full-length apparently) although I'd probably take the E.P. over this one if pushed. It starts off very poorly with the first two tracks doing very little for me but things start to get interesting after that & I ended up finding appeal in around 70% of the tracklisting after a few listens. "I Disagree" sees Poppy combining her electropop sound with alternative metal in what is a stunningly well producing album. You can easily pick up her heavier influences with names like Devin Townsend, Marilyn Manson & Dream Theater all popping up at times but I honestly think her gorgeous vocal tone is the best part of this record & often more on the poppier parts more than the metal ones. Look... I was obviously not the target market for this sort of record but I still think it was worth a few listens, despite not being worthy of all the attention it received a few years ago.

For fans of Bring Me the Horizon, Motionless in White & Spiritbox.

3.5/5

The lack of strength makes this sh*t perhaps their weakest track since The Here and Now:

Here are my submissions for the July Gateway playlist:

Apocalyptica - "Rage of Poseidon" (8:49) from 7th Symphony (2010)

Chaoseum - "Unreal" (5:09) from The Third Eye (2022)

Demon Hunter - "I'm Done" (4:48) from I'm Done (2025)

Five Finger Death Punch - "Wrong Side of Heaven" (4:31) from The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1 (2013)

Limp Bizkit - "Re-Arranged" (5:56) from Significant Other (1999)

Total length: 29:13

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Alien Weaponry – Myself to Blame (2025)

5/5. Let's start with some slow sludgy groove. The vocal power of Lewis Raharuhi de Jong help make that track an epic highlight.

Apocalyptica – Cold Blood (2015)

5/5. One of my favorite songs by this cello metal band! If you love it too, welcome in! If you don't, there are other things to try.

Disturbed – Sacred Lie (2005)

4.5/5. Raise your fist to some kick-A alt-metal! This year, this album will turn 20 on September 20. The final chorus really strikes with its heavy riffing.

Elysion – Made of Lies (2014)

4/5. Beautiful vocals and wonderous lyrics, but a little too much of an early 2000s Lacuna Coil knockoff.

Gemini Syndrome – 2B1 (2025)

3.5/5. This solid new track might remind some of A Perfect Circle. I'm a little surprised my alt-rock/metal-loving brother only discovered this band recently and not over a decade ago unlike those other bands he likes. After all, Lux and Memento Mori were released in the 2010s. Pretty good track!

Linkin Park – Papercut (2000)

3/5. The rapping verses by Mike Shinoda make a decent blend with the melodic vocal chorus by Chester Bennington (RIP).

Nonpoint – That Day (2012)

3.5/5. Another cool banger!

Tremonti – Just Too Much (2025)

4/5. Another great track, blending his earlier work with the new stuff.

Treyarch Sound (Elena Siegman, Kevin Sherwood – Beauty of Annihilation (2011)

3.5/5. The version that appears in the playlist is actually the Brian Tuey remix, but as long as the original vocals are still there, it's still that song. I especially like the drop to start the final third of the song, it's the perfect drop!

Underoath – Outsider (2025)

4/5. This one marks the grand end of the journey, in both its original album and this playlist. Aaron Gillespie sings solo in this track, and that helps it being an easy track to end with. The perfect way out, with more to expect in the future!

Here's my review summary, which I've copied from an earlier post:

Roadrunner Records is one of the most famous and diverse metal/hard rock record labels of all time. Famous and infamous bands signed to the label like Slipknot, Trivium, Fear Factory, and Machine Head have made the label as big as it is. And the then-core members of each of those 4 bands were chosen for ambitious project conceived by ex-vice president of the label Monte Conner. He wanted to do a special thing for Roadrunner's 25th anniversary. He wanted 4 members of different bands band together to make an album dedicated to the label. But then he decided to upgrade his idea into something more ambitious... The 4 chosen ones, ex-Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison (RIP), Trivium frontman Matt Heafy, Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares, and Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn were tasked in each recording 4 songs (though one captain would have a bonus 5th) and choose any member of a Roadrunner-signed band past or present to record with them. The end result is a massive 18-song 77-minute album featuring 57 artists from 45 bands! Here's to another impressive project like this in the future, hopefully in Roadrunner's 50th year, 2030.

4/5

Recommended tracks: "The Dagger", "The Enemy", "In the Fire", "The End", "Tired 'n Lonely", "Baptized in the Redemption", "Blood and Flames", "I Don't Wanna Be (A Superhero)", "Army of the Sun"

For fans of: Fear Factory, Machine Head, Slipknot, Trivium, and pretty much every band whose members were involved here

Two kick-A metalhead YouTubers unite with former Crystal Lake vocalist Ryo Kinoshita to make a modern alt-metal anthem:

Inspired by one of my current favorite YouTube channels Thralls of Metal, I decided to also get in the "band's greatest hits" trend of compiling tracks from different albums by a band as your own "greatest hits" kind of album. If you have any of your own "greatest hits" albums for your favorite bands, feel free to post them here.

Here are my rules for how I would do my own "greatest hits" albums, but you may have your own rules:

1. Two songs per each studio album; one popular track and one underrated track.

2. One song per other album (remix album, EP, etc.).

3. If a track is at least 10 minutes long or close to that, it counts as two songs.

4. Might add in one extra song for one of the albums.

5. If the length of the tracklisting exceeds 80 minutes (the CD length limit), it's split into two discs, maybe 3 discs if even longer.

6. Songs are in chronological order.

Let's start with the world's most famous alt-rock/metal band:

Linkin Park - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1V8OiCrZBWvDtfUystkoxj

1. And One

2. In the End

3. Pushing Me Away

4. Krwlng

5. Don't Stay

6. From the Inside

7. Points of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer

8. What I've Done

9. No More Sorrow

10. When They Come for Me

11. Waiting for the End

12. Lost in the Echo

13. Skin to Bone

14. A Light That Never Comes

15. Guilty All the Same

16. War

17. One More Light

18. Friendly Fire

19. Two Faced

20. Good Things Go

Update to my list:

1. Dir En Grey - Uroboros (2008)

2. Coldrain - The Side Effects (2019)

3. Karnivool - Themata (2005)

4. Northlane - Obsidian (2022)

5. Mushroomhead - The Righteous & the Butterfly (2014)

6. Sleep Token - Take Me Back to Eden (2023)

7. Soilwork - Övergivenheten (2022)

8. Bad Omens - Finding God Before God Finds Me (2019)

9. Any Given Sin - War Within (2023)

10. Apocalyptica - Worlds Collide (2007)

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Any Given Sin – Insidious (2023)

5/5. Let's start with a high-octane track to love.

Cave In – The World Is In Your Way (2005)

4.5/5. Another amazing song! This is basically like early Queen gone f***ing heavy. Caleb Scofield performs some cool Coalesce-esque growls here. RIP

Clown – Love (2021)

4/5. Clown has a bit of influence from Korn and Deftones. I love it, though it's not entirely perfect.

DAGames – United We Stand (2016)

4.5/5. Absolutely hard-hitting! Drama aside, DAGames' songs are still amazing underrated work.

A Day to Remember – Make It Make Sense (2025)

5/5. Another memorable track to remember. Unleash the pain!

Future Palace – Roses (2022)

4.5/5. This one can sound so melancholic and malicious, sometimes at the same time. This dynamic track is one of, if not THE, best of its original album. However, other songs may fight for that position in this playlist.

Lacuna Coil – Zombies (2014)

4/5. There are still some great songs from this band, some of which don't have a music video but should have. I love the vocal balance between the two vocalists Andrea Ferro and Cristina Scabbia. I just wish the lyrics could've had a little more purpose.

My Ruin – Ready for Blood (2008)

3.5/5. How the f*** can Tairrie B pull off such impressive screams throughout this song?! So impressive! The music itself could've been better though.

Nothing More – Jenny (2013)

4/5. Sometimes there's no reason to fear letting out your dark struggles for the world to hear. You can't just hold them in for so long. And when you do let them out, don't let any haters bring you down. Vocalist Jonny Hawkins has dedicated this song to his sister Jenna and his aunt Jenny, both of whom having suffered from mental illness. This band has joined the league of alt-rock/metal bands my brother has been listening to, alongside Breaking Benjamin, Skillet, and Three Days Grace.

Saint Asonia – Devastate (2022)

3.5/5. This track is filled with powerful modern alt-metal, with a chorus of melodic wonder.

The Wreckage – Breaking Through (2011)

4/5. And just like Skillet and Breaking Benjamin, we have another hard rock/alt-metal anthem to encourage you to speak your mind. Quite great for a band that has only made a 3-song EP. This can help you run some laps, maybe even a marathon!

Vended - Vended (2024)

Time moves fast and we barely have time to listen to all of the music in the world. But that is not going to stop us from giving our Metal Academy faithful something to consume that you just may have missed last year. As I have the reins this month in the Gateway, my choice of album is Vended's self titled debut from last year. For reference, the lead singer of Vended (Griffin Taylor) is in fact the son of Corey Taylor so this should be interesting.

https://metal.academy/releases/54930

I haven't been able to conjure up a proper review, but here are my thoughts.

This is an album of bouncy, melodic, mainstream-baiting metal tunes from Japan and as such really isn't intended for a doom-obsessed lover of the darkness that envelops extreme metal such as myself. No surprising then that this didn't do a great deal for me and with which I found it quite hard to connect. Sounds to my jaded ears like a smoothie blended from part Evanescence, part Linkin Park and part Trivium with some electronic touches thrown in especially to irritate me. The singer sounds like he would actually have quite a nice voice given the right material, reminding me of Coheed and Cambria's Eduardo Sanchez, but his metalcore shouting isn't something I can appreciate - as perfectly illustrated by the track "Speak" which just had me thinking "shut up".

I find it quite hard to envision this gaining any popularity among older metal fans like myself who were brought up on a diet of seventies hard rock and eighties heavy metal. But I can easily hear that the younger metalheads who grew up more accustomed to a wider range of external influences such as rap, electronica and post-hardcore being incorporated into their metal may get off on this, particularly if they are drawn to a more melodic version of metal. That said, I have no idea if any true metalhead would ever get much out of the excretious ballad "1st January" which sounds like Robbie Williams at his soppiest. In fact, scrub that because Williams' "Angels" pisses all over this track.

Sorry to anyone who really digs on this, but this is the most positive summary of my feelings towards this that I could manage to summon and I am guessing that more than a single listen would have me getting increasingly abrasive in my assessment. Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say, "no, not for me" and this is one of those cases I'm afraid. I tried, I really did... [closes Spotify halfway through "Answer/Sickness"].

1/5

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Amen – Slave (1994)

4/5. A great start to this playlist, in memory of Amen vocalist Casey Chaos. RIP

Any Given Sin – Rest for the Wicked (2025)

3.5/5. Good song, great vocals, nice bass! Although the more I listen to this, the more I find some overpowering Daughtry vibes. Still there's no rest for this high-octane tunes.

Demon Hunter – Freedom is Dead (2022)

3/5. This one has more of the metalcore energy and growled vocals from Ryan Clark, though it seems more like an appetizer compared to the rest of this main course.

Falling in Reverse – Prequel (2024)

5/5. This highlight introduces you to the dark world of Popular Monster with an ominous tribal march, as Ronnie takes on some poetic diary-like rapping that can actually outshine Eminem. As all this is happening, an epic buildup slowly grows, and Ronnie warns the haters to, if they have anything bad to say, let him know directly. Right at the very height, he pulls off some impressive falsetto singing, and the heaviness crashes down on you like a world-destroying missile. His girlfriend Saraya (who guest appears in a song later in the album) would definitely use that her entrance theme for wrestling tournaments. I understand if anyone wants to skip that track for something more upbeat, but for me, it's a glorious start to this monstrous yet understandably overhated offering.

Five Finger Death Punch – A Little Bit Off (2020)

4.5/5. A softer but excellent relatable track.

In This Moment – Adrenalize (2012)

5/5. Another awesome track to please the crowd!

Jynx – G.O.A.T. (2018)

4.5/5. "G.O.A.T" in this case stands for "God of All Things". Some bada** nu/rap metal right here!

Lacuna Coil – I Wish You Were Dead (2025)

4/5. This single is what got me pumped up for the new Lacuna Coil album, and it's a true highlight. Again it connects the bridge between Comalies and Karmacode, maybe even a more dramatic take on a song from Shallow Life. It's a little short, being under 3 minutes. Maybe a guitar solo before the final chorus would make it better, but I still enjoy it as-is.

Spiritbox – Perfect Soul (2025)

4.5/5. Love this amazing new work by Spiritbox!

Swallow the Sun – What Have I Become (2024)

5/5. While some people think this switch from gothic death-doom into mainstream alt-metal should burn in Hell, I disagree. This is one of the best songs I've heard from the new Swallow the Sun. The growls and cleans both work so well.

Vision of Disorder – Heart of Darkness (2015)

4.5/5. Vision of Disorder also went into more of a mainstream alt-metal direction. Fortunately, they still have their roots from the heart of 90s metalcore.

Well this album didn't hit me as well as it once did when I first heard it 10 years ago, sorry Saxy. I'll just post my review link here: https://metal.academy/reviews/38245/6445

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Ankor – Chop Suey! (2014)

4.5/5. Well this is an interesting start to this playlist. I had no idea Ankor covered this System of a Down classic. The band's usual A Day to Remember/Bring Me the Horizon gone Paramore sound gives the song more climatic drama, especially during the bridge leading up to the final chorus. Well done!

Any Given Sin – Nearer Our God to Thee (2015)

5/5. Wow, this might just be the greatest song I've heard in this Disturbed kind of alt-metal style. This is my jam!

Avenged Sevenfold – Afterlife (2007)

4.5/5. Although I've fallen off the A7X train, I can still go back to this killer track again and again. RIP The Rev

Limp Bizkit – Shotgun (2011)

4/5. My favorite track in this Limp Bizkit album attacks with the band's earlier humor and heaviness of Significant Other. Anyone here caught off-guard by the awesome rare guitar soloing?

Metallica – Some Kind of Monster (2003)

3.5/5. A monstrous 8-minute epic that should be re-recorded with improved production, guitar soloing, audible bass, and none of the G****MN SNARE.

Mucky Pup – Own Up for What You Say (1993)

4/5. Pretty great track, but a little too punky.

Nothing More – Fade In/Fade Out (2017)

4.5/5. A 6-minute pic to touch the hearts of all music listeners.

TOOL – Jambi (2006)

4/5. This one track really lets loose with the groove, especially the riffing surrounding the guitar solo.

We all know what went wrong with St. Anger; the overlong songs, the poor production, the total lack of guitar solos, the inaudible bass, and that F***ING SNARE. But what if the album had almost none of those problems at all? Last year, YouTuber Michael Shea decided to create and upload this full-album re-recording of St. Anger, St. [b]Anger. As he stated in the description, "The songs are shorter, the production is better, and the snare drum is more tolerable. I took some creative liberties with the songs and did what I thought would benefit them. Everything has been re-recorded from the ground up, except for the vocals which were extracted from the original album."

The end result is indeed St. Anger but better! It really does sound like a more enjoyable alt-metal album, and a more enjoyable take on what Metallica has done. With most of the original problems eliminated, I like many of the songs more now, and even the worst songs sound cool. Most of them are trimmed down to 4 or 5 minutes, which shall work well for many music listeners, including those who prefer to hear them in more radio-friendly lengths.

There are still a few issues, a couple of which might've been added in by the re-recording. Since the vocals weren't re-recorded and instead we end up having the original vocals by James Hetfield, his nu metal-ish shouts still make me cringe a bit. At least the re-recording has an instrumental version. The shortening of a couple songs might've been too much, with "Frantic" and the title track becoming shorter than their original radio edits. The re-recording of "Frantic" would end up having an extended version along with the re-recording of "Invisible Kid". And the title track rules more than it already does, along with "Some Kind of Monster". The lengths of "Sweet Amber", "Purify", and "All Within My Hands" were barely affected, but that's OK because all 3 are turned into highlights, with "All Within My Hands" finally living it up as a true 8-minute epic.

So, is St. [b]Anger really St. Anger but actually good? I certainly think it's good, while still having a few things wrong. I don't know if it's something you all might be up for, but there's a high chance that you'll be like, "Oh yeah, this is what that sh*tty trainwreck should've sounded like." You might just win it all from this band after all....

Favorites: "St. Anger", "Some Kind of Monster", "Sweet Amber", "Purify", "All Within My Hands"

3.5/5

While I guess Mirror's Edge is a staple of The Gateway, it doesn't do a whole lot for me I must admit. The first track proper, "Afterimage" is the only one to offer any appeal to me, the female vocals being very nice and the track generally being less in-your-face than the other material. An overall sound that seems like a mixture of metalcore, nu-metal, djent and some industrial and electronic stylings, it doesn't speak to me at all, but its choppy riffing and angst-ridden vocals manage to irritate the shit out of me if I am being honest. It does seem to be competently performed and the compressed production style is tailor-made for this sort of angsty material, so I am guessing it is exactly the kind of things the band's usual fans expect. It is clear that I am far from the target audience for this and sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say "We can't all like everything can we, so I'll leave this to those who get it". Sorry Andi.

1.5/5

After realizing that The Gateway was the only clan without a "band discography ranking" thread, I decided to start it here. If you have any bands whose albums you've ranked from best to worst, feel free to post them here.

Let's start with the world's most famous alt-rock/metal band:

Linkin Park

1. Meteora

2. Hybrid Theory

3. The Hunting Party

4. Hybrid Theory EP

5. Collision Course (EP)

6. From Zero

7. Papercuts (compilation)

8. Reanimation (remix album)

9. Xero Demo

10. Minutes to Midnight

11. Living Things

12. A Thousand Suns

13. One More Light

14. Recharged (remix album)

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Bring Me The Horizon – YOUtopia (2024)

5/5. The beginning of Bring Me the Horizon's second Post Human installment is so crazy yet you can soar through the clouds. Love it!

The Devil Wears Prada – Chemical (2019)

4.5/5. F***ing amazing greatness from this band!

Falling in Reverse – Zombified (2024)

5/5. This highlight is a total anthem of intense energy, standing against the cancel culture Ronnie was suffering in. Love that one!

Gemini Syndrome – Remember We Die (2016)

4.5/5. So bad-a** and filled with amazing fire! "Remember we die, but until we arrive, don't let go, just let the light shine from your soul before we run out of time..."

Lacuna Coil – In The Mean Time (feat. Ash Costello) (2024)

4/5. Lacuna Coil was one of the first gothic metal bands I started listened to. Well, at least their first 3 albums are gothic metal, now the band is more like gothic-ish alt-metal. I like hearing the guest vocals by Ash Costello to break up the repetition.

Nik Nocturnal, Archie Wilson – Undisturbed (2024)

4.5/5. "Get off your phones, get off your computers, and say these magic words with me.... SHA-KA-KA-KOW!!!"

Papercut – Somber Literature (2023)

4/5. "'Cause I'm paranoid, looking over my head..." Oh wait, it's not that song. Some cool nu metalcore from Hartford, Connecticut!

The Plot in You – Left Behind (2024)

4.5/5. I love the music and lyrics in this one. So relatable!

Seven Hours After Violet – Go! (2024)

4/5. Finally we really go hard in this f***ing insane track. Lots of speed and destruction from the music and vocals, with a fun anthemic chorus.

You're doing it right, Zach. I love that In This Moment song, another great track to please the alt-metal crowd.

I've just given that Chat Pile album some listening and a review, and I can hear what you mean, Daniel. It is much more, well, alternative than God's Country, and marks a solid offering of noise-ridden sludge/alt-metal. I'll contribute to your Hall of Judgement poll with a YES vote.

So with the start of a new year it's once again time to have a look at the covers for all the releases for each clan. I personally like to rate a whole stack of covers all at once, rather than doing them one at a time throughout the year, as it allows me to get a better feel for where each cover sits in comparison to others. With that in mind, I've just rated every cover for releases in The Gateway for 2024.

Below are some of the releases that are currently competing for the prestigious 2024 The Gateway Cover of the Year Award. The winner will be announced on the 1st of February, so there's still time to get your ratings in.

The following link will take you to the Gallery, displaying the top Gateway releases that you have not rated yet: CLICK HERE

I haven't listened to Poppy before, but have seen her plastered all over RYM as she seems to be a darling of the cognoscenti over there. Well, I think it is fair to say that this is not aimed at me and so my opinion is irrelevant. To me this sounds like someone has made a mashup of Avril Lavigne, Kittie and Evanescence, thrown in a few recycled Slipknot riffs and Linkin Park backing tracks, then employed a world class marketing team and pursuaded people they are listening to something new and exciting. There is nothing for me at all in this and all I got out of it was disinterest. I hate giving out really low marks, but I asked myself if I listened to every metal album ever made, would this be in the bottom ten percent and I would have to say, yes it would, hence the score.

I want to try to expand my metal listening a bit this year and thought the clan monthly features would be a good source, but it hasn't exactly got off to a sterling start. I won't be writig a full review for Negative Spaces because it would be unfair on the strength of just one listen, but I just couldn't do it again. Sorry Saxy, I hate dumping on other people's picks, but I just don't get this at all.

0.5/5

Wow, we're starting off the new year quite well with some amazing playlists you've made, Saxy! Such an amazing job that I have the incentive to comment on all the tracks in it. So here are all my thoughts:

Alesti, Loveless – Voices (2021)

4.5/5. Alesti is clearly a modern legend. And I mean d*mn lots of nice talent! It would be quite cool to hear a collaboration with Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation sometime in the future. Though there's already a track with a well-known female vocalist in the next one...

Apocalyptica, Cristina Scabbia – S.O.S. (Anything but Love) (2007)

5/5. ...That vocalist being Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil! I love this blend of cello-infused grandeur and gothic alt-metal. The only other track I've heard from this band was "I Don't Care" featuring Adam Gontier.

Bad Omens – Blood (2019)

5/5. This one is another heavy hitter, with less focus on clean singing, unless you count the deep viking-like chanting, "IT'S IN OUR BLOOD!" The powerful strength for their more brutal side is really prevailing.

Blind Channel – Dark Side (2022)

4.5/5. Quite dark and amazing, though a bit too rap-ish.

Bring Me The Horizon, Babymetal – Kingslayer (2020)

5/5. I'm currently writing and drawing a book about a metalhead and his young sister. If the young sister enjoys Japanese anime and wants to sing with her metalhead brother, this blend of alt-metal, metalcore, and J-pop can very well be the soundtrack. Also the "Get the f*** up, wake the f*** up" reminds me of a certain 36 Crazyfists hit.

Clawfinger – Biggest & the Best (1997)

4.5/5. I wouldn't say the biggest and best song I've heard, but there's some amazing potential.

Coldrain – Blood Power Fam (2022)

5/5. This one is a thought-evoking anthem throwing back to the band's earlier alt-metal/post-hardcore roots of 10 years ago. It's certainly addictive with the tight guitar shredding and powerful clean choruses. No wonder it became another anime theme!

Deliverance – Belltown (2018)

4.5/5. Deliverance started off as a Christian thrash band then started making a turn into alt-rock/metal. Jerry P. Brown provides some strong inspirational lyrics despite his vocals and the music sounding closer to Alice in Chains.

Dir En Grey – THE FINAL (2013)

5/5. This re-recording is from over 10 years before this comment and it's timeless to me, even after only having heard of this band for a few years. The vocals are incredible, and the soloing that starts near the two-minute mark is out of this world! We need more remakes of songs from the band's mid-2000s era. I don't hear anything disappointing when the structure has the right touch. The emotional feeling I get really touches my heart. I love its awesome spirit, and I'm quite curious about the unplugged version.

End Of Green – The Door (2017)

4.5/5. I'm honestly surprised this band isn't as well-known as the similar-sounding Type O Negative. Quite some excellent heavy sh*t to rock on to. A nice prog-ish touch too!

Exilia – Satellite (2012)

4/5. Great song, yet the lyrics a little hard to understand.

Faith No More – A Small Victory (1992)

3.5/5. Slightly forgettable, but the song is so good with the talented vocals of Mike Patton.

Godsmack – Bulletproof (2018)

4/5. This next track may be too accessible for the band's earlier fans, but it soars much better with its catchy melody. Reminds me of Breaking Benjamin a bit, which must be why my brother likes that one.

Linkin Park – Two Faced (2024)

4.5/5. My favorite track of the new Linkin Park album, basically a better revamp of "Figure.09" with killer heavy riffing. In the bridge, Emily quietly whispers "I can’t hear myself think" before launching into an awesome "One Step Closer"-esque yell-fest, "STOP YELLING AT ME!!!"

Mass Hysteria – World On Fire (2009)

4/5. Society shall work together and unite for a better world. The song itself has great production. From the heavy intro onwards, it shall stick around on radio.

Nothing More, Sinizter – STUCK (2024)

4.5/5. "This is for the people who can't break through!" It's quite unbelievable how well rock/metal can go with rap in some tracks. I probably wouldn't have heard of this band if not for my brother enjoying a few of their songs. Both vocalists sound impressive in this great piece of art. Maybe they can collaborate with Avatar, Lacuna Coil, and/or Within Temptation, that would f***ing cook things up a lot!

Nuclear Rabbit – Chernobyl Hamster (1997)

4/5. Not a lot of people have heard this band. Songs like this are quite underrated with the funky bass executed well. However, those f***ing vocals remind me why funk metal is not usually my thing.

Quicksand – Fazer (1993)

3.5/5. Good Helmet vibes, but not entirely great.

Starset – Dystopia (2024)

4/5. I have a f***ing heavy feeling about the upcoming Starset album, thanks to great singles like this one.

Unjust – Come Feel Me (2001)

4.5/5. A fun banger with excellent vocals and drums, the latter especially around the two and a half minute mark. I also love the powerful riffing. I heard the vocalist for this band is now a Pixar animator, which is quite cool because I like Pixar movies. The song is so f***ing intense! They've done it better than Machine Head that year.

Waltari – Below Zero (2009)

5/5. The playlist ends with one of my favorite songs by Waltari in their later era. Finland is perhaps the coldest, happiest, and most metal country in the world, all different reasons why I wanna live there. I can hear a bit of Amaranthe instrumentation, as well as beautiful godly melodies. It's melodic alt-metal heaven!

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

40 Below Summer – 5 Of A Kind (2006)

4/5. Any nu metal fans out there wanting to rock out to songs like this, be my guest. It's pretty great, but I sense better kinds of this music elsewhere.

Alesti, Anxxiety – Dissipate (2021)

4.5/5. I probably would never have heard of Alesti if not for my brother listening to a couple of his tracks. Quite a wild song to love!

Bad Omens – Dethrone (2019)

5/5. Surprising you hard is the heaviest track of its original album. In contrast to the album's clean soft tracks, that one has Emmure-like moshing moments to make it clear that Bad Omens can be considered metal.

Breaking Benjamin – Awaken (2024)

4.5/5. Epic new single by another hard rock/alt-metal/post-grunge band that my brother enjoys, from the upcoming Breaking Benjamin album coming out next year.

Godsmack – 1000hp (2014)

4/5. The title opener of Godsmack's 6th album 1000hp is an anthem of their journey so far, taking us back to the year of their formation, 1995. Listen to that aggressive guitarwork and argue with me about whether or not that's metal, because I might win that debate. The loudness and powerful vocals shall pack some heavy face-punches. "TURN THAT SH*T UP LOUDER!!!"

Lansdowne – Conquer Them All (2023)

4.5/5. I'm quite thankful to my brother for helping me start my metal path and conquer practically all the different lands of metal, though this song and band we didn't encounter until around last year.

Linkin Park – Heavy Is the Crown (2024)

4/5. The main theme song for this year's League of Legends World Championship greatly throws back to "Faint" in the pace and instrumentation, along with "Given Up" in the massive 16-second scream in the bridge, "THIS IS WHAT YOU ASKED FOOOOOOOORRRRRR!!!!!!"

Moron Police – Who’s That Chicken? (2012)

3.5/5. Interesting blend of comedy, punky metal, and radio-friendliness.

Nothing More, David Draiman – Angel Song (2024)

4/5. Nothing More is almost like a blend of Disturbed, Godsmack, and Fall Out Boy. The emotional lyrics and guest vocals by Disturbed's David Draiman really hit the spot.

Starset – Brave New World (2024)

4.5/5. Starset wasn't kidding about wanting to make their sound more cinematic. Good work, guys!

Well 2024 is almost in the rearview and it's about that time that we enter into the new year ass first and look to see what stood out among the rest in metal music in the previous year. As a distinguished member of the Gateway clan, it might come as a surprise that it is also one of my most frustrating listens on a yearly basis. But whose to say we cannot rustle some feathers? So here's my list:

1. Reliqa - Secrets of the Future

2. Poppy - Negative Spaces

3. Devin Townsend - PowerNerd

4. Northlane - Mirror's Edge

5. Slope - Freak Dreams

6. Pain - I Am

7. Graphic Nature - Who Are You When No One Is Watching?

8. Blanket - Ceremonia

9. Imminence - The Black

10. Vended - Vended

Just a top 10 obviously because there were quite a few records that don't deserve mention in this conversation. Alternative metalcore dominates this list once again, but bands like Reliqa, Vended and Graphic Nature are bringing nu metal back.

Here's my review summary:

For over a decade, I've considered myself to be a metal nerd. Not to brag, but I know a lot about the different metal bands and genres I've listened to all these years. Even when I seem to distance myself from a genre or at least bands from a genre and have done it for a few years, I can still remember many of my experiences with those bands' material. One of those artists is Devin Townsend. With his new album PowerNerd, he once again explores different genres while standing by his prog/alt-metal. Some tracks are filled with anthemic and joyful rock, while a couple others are soft and spacey. Devin Townsend fans are once again reminded of what a progressive metal superhero he is. While I have my own metal heroes, I don't mind revisiting this musical genius once in a while and checking out amazing offerings like this one. Creativity can be anyone's superpower, but he isn't just anyone!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "PowerNerd", "Knuckledragger", "Ubelia", "Jainism", "Glacier", "Goodbye"

For fans of: the 2009 albums of Devin Townsend Project, Strapping Young Lad, Nothing More

A couple of old favourites that have finally given up the ghost:

Extreme's "He-Man Woman Hater" is a pretty decent song that no doubt highlights the incredible talents of guitarist Nuno Bettencourt but I do think it sounds out of place on a playlist for The Gateway as it's essentially a glam metal song.

I consider it one of the funkiest tracks in that Extreme album, close enough to funk metal (which only covers one or two other tracks in the album), hence one of my submissions here.

Hello again to all the Metal Academy alumni. Hope you have had a chance to enjoy the Halloween candy because you are going to need an empty stomach for this months Gateway feature album. It's nu metal, it's metalcore, and its filling. This is Graphic Nature's Who Are You When No One Is Watching?

https://metal.academy/releases/53156

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Alesti, The World Alive – Disconnected (2021)

4.5/5. Let's start with a killer collaboration with an alt-metalcore band, between Norwegian metal producer Alesti and The Word Alive vocalist Telle Smith. I'm picking up some Hard Reset vibes here, even though this track came out a couple years before that The Word Alive album. The vocals are quite cool and practically make the song epic.

Falling In Reverse – Watch the World Burn (2024)

5/5. A true example of rap metal gone epic. The greatness of that song can practically compete with the Trivium one!

Ice Nine Kills – Hunting Season (2022)

4.5/5. Now this song is a legit contender for a video game-related album Ice Nine Kills should make next. Not just Player Unknown Battlegrounds, but also Call of Duty Zombies! It can almost compete with some of their greatest hits from the Silver Scream series. "SO WE'LL KILL SINGING!!!" Happy Halloween Month!

Last Crack – Squeeze It (2002)

4/5. They're really funkin' it up here, though too much for me to give it a crack.

Linkin Park – Runaway (2000)

4.5/5. More of the band's skyrocketing hooks appear in this highlight, where the primitive tune's melodies can probably get the song into alternative radio.

Living Colour – Wall (1993)

4/5. This one shows you all how this funky sound should really be done. As much as I enjoy Revolution bands from the electronicore of Enter Shikari to the mathcore of The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, I'm up for a bit of funky alt-metal once in a while.

Mushroomhead – We Don’t Care (2024)

4.5/5. This one aptly shows the band not caring about anything except their own thing. It's like they've taken a song from one of their 90s albums and made it much heavier. An instant classic!

Of Mice & Men – Pain (2016)

4/5. A total unclean crusher with lyrics about the pain of Carlile's Marfan syndrome, which he inherited from his late mother. "PAIN!!!! Every day that I awake, in my blood and through my veins, now there's nothing left that you can take away from me!"

Primer 55 – Loose (2000)

3.5/5. Primer 55 can cause some moshing action in the crowd similar to the catfight depicted in its original album's cover, all without stopping to breathe. Gen X can have some f***ing killer tracks, though there's more rap here than I can take.

Rvshvd, All That Remains – Proof (2024)

4/5. Another collaboration single, this one between Rvshvd and All That Remains. I thought it was going to be just a country rap song and I would've given it a "thumbs down to Hell" if it was, but it turned out to be something different and pretty good. Basically like one of All That Remains' ballads ("Just Tell Me Something" comes to my mind) but with a decent country twist of melodic sorrow. Nice potential as an alt-metal track!

System of a Down – B.Y.O.B. (2005)

4.5/5. Wrapping up my time in this playlist is an experimental alt-metal classic, launching into a thrashy intro followed by a blend of Iron Maiden-like verses and nu metal choruses. An epic diverse start to its original album, and the main reason why I became up to listening to Mezmerize, when my brother was listening to that song.

Here's my review summary:

Falling in Reverse is one of the least liked bands in rock/metal, maybe even the world. All the hate is pointed towards frontman Ronnie Radke. Now as I've said before, I'm the kind of person who doesn't put direct association between art and artist. Just because someone is considered a total d*ck doesn't mean their music is automatically dogsh*t. Though exceptions can be made for those known for more serious stuff like murder and Nazism (Burzum's Varg Vikernes would qualify in both categories). Some music you can enjoy without thinking too much about one of the band members and what they've done, but we live in a world where people can easily put you down for something you like, which is what this site is supposed to prevent. With that said... I F***ING LOVE POPULAR MONSTER!!! That's right, I said it! Anyone can hate this album and the band, but personally, I find no reason to give it a thumbs-down, and that's my true opinion. I can witness a lot of talent from Radke and co. with their respective roles. 3 quarters of the album was already pre-released as singles, but they certainly shape it all up, and a good feeling was already made from the millions of streams some of the singles has earned. This proves that no matter how shunned a band can get, they can sweep the globe. A good metaphorical meaning behind the title of this monstrously grand album, Popular Monster. Even a rap metal track can expand into something climatic and epic. And when there's a metalcore track striking down, it strikes down HARD. And the more oddball tracks here, such as a country metal hoedown and an emotional strings-only cover of a Papa Roach hit, are actually pretty good. Popular Monster may not be for a lot of music listeners, but it certainly opened my ears to the talent for Falling in Reverse. It's honestly quite a unique album in the metal and hardcore realms. This experimental alt-metal style is something done in different ways by bands like Sleep Token and Bad Omens, yet Falling in Reverse step in with a more diverse mix. If anyone doesn't want anything to do with this album or band, they have their own ways. Just know that one man's sh*t is another man's treasure. One of modern alt-metal gold!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "Prequel", "Popular Monster", "Ronald", "Watch the World Burn", "Zombified", "No Fear"

For fans of: Jeris Johnson, Bad Omens, Linkin Park

What a voice the chick from Infected Rain has! She makes that track a ripsnorter. The Linkin Park track is absolute gold. I absolutely love the chorus hook & it stays with me for days. Funked myself around the lounge room to Mr. Bungle while cleaning the house this morning & didn't mind that Living Colour tune either. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the early tracks from Animal Alpha, Bad Omens & Bring Me The Horizon to be honest. There was some nice, heavy, yet still inherently catchy material there. Rage Against The Machine fans will definitely enjoy the back end of the list as there's an obvious influence in two or three songs. 

My adjusted Top Ten Funk Metal Releases of All Time list (despite the fact that only very few releases with this tag are genuinely worthy of it in my opinion):

01. Faith No More - "The Real Thing" (1989)

02. Primus - "Frizzle Fry" (1990)

03. Mr. Bungle - "Mr. Bungle" (1991)

04. Faith No More - "Introduce Yourself" (1987)

05. Primus - "Sailing The Seas Of Cheese" (1991)

06. Scatterbrain - "Here Comes Trouble" (1990)

07 Primus - "Pork Soda" (1993)

08. Living Colour - "Stain" (1993)

09. Living Colour - "Time's Up" (1990)

10. Mordred - "In This Life" (1991)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/265

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

D’espairsRay – “Forbidden” (2006)

4.5/5. This isn't the D'espairsRay song I requested, but it's still quite amazing. I can't believe I haven't discovered anything from this band until last year, though I knew I was destined to find their material at some point in my life. This shall fit well for exploring the lava-covered monster-ridden Nether in Minecraft. Prepare for some J-metal action!

Dog Fashion Disco – Pale Horse (2014)

4/5. Another great song to love, going back to forth from brutal to pop-ish at any time.

Evanescence – Whisper (2003)

3.5/5. This one adds creepy symphonics to the nu metal/post-grunge sound that made my brother like that song. The lyrics have some religious vibes warning you to resist evil and save yourself from danger.

Katatonia – The Parting (2012)

4/5. It's been far too long since I've parted ways from the music of this band, but I'm grateful songs like this can be dark while having melody instead of death.

MAZIAC – Splendour (2024)

4.5/5. More progressive splendor. Enough said!

Mushroomhead – Fall In Line (2024)

5/5. Mushroomhead is back with a brand new album Call the Devil, coming out next week as of this comment. The album and this kick-A single marks the debut of Scott "xtriker" Beck, replacing longtime vocalist Jason "J Mann" Popson. Lots of fresh yet usual music and lyrics here, "You’re killing me with all your sorrow". This is true heavy sh*t while often melodic! Sadly, all we have left from the original lineup is percussionist Steve "Skinny" Felton. Nonetheless, the band are staying true to their original name.

Sleep Token – Take Me Back To Eden (2023)

5/5. This 8-minute epic really nails the structure. In a garden of birds, Vessel sings in tranquility before lyrics of mental state are semi-rapped. The ending climax has Vessel screaming in pretty much the heaviest breakdown of its original album.

Here's my review summary:

Limp Bizkit is a band that has gained quite some hate over the years. From their name, to their nu/rap metal/rock sound, to the scathing vocal anger of vocalist Fred Durst, to their live performances causing violence in crowds (one show causing the death of a teenage girl)... The band even covered a George Michael single as their entry into fame. Basically they're like an extra-cheese-coated biscuit, and I can bite down on that biscuit more than those who give up after a nibble. Some of the rap metal tracks in this album, Significant Other, are quite pleasant, with anthems done better than most other rap metal bands in my opinion. They are leveled up by the guitar attack of Wes Borland and the rapping of Fred Durst, alongside melodic groove and harmonic singing, along with a few guest vocalists from the rap, rock, and metal scenes. Even I hesitated to call this album good, but I have to tell my true opinion. And what can I say? I'm an open-minded person....

3.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Just Like This", "Break Stuff", "Rearranged", "Nobody Like You", "9 Teen 90 Nine", "N2gether Now", "A Lesson Learned"

For fans of: Korn, Linkin Park, Eminem (not that a lot of us here have listened to Eminem, but the album definitely has some Slim Shady vibes)

Revisiting this album after hearing that god awful HARDY album Quit!! exemplifies why I enjoyed it in the first place.

Nu metal is notorious for not having any substance beyond edgy teenagers whining and getting angry at the most trivial of issues. These are not inherently bad, but without anything closely resembling a melody or instrumental motifs make them insufferably one dimensional. Reliqa are doing nu metal sure, but instrumentally, Secrets of the Future is very dense, unique and above all, interesting. The lyrics and music play off of one another in a very progressive manner, while retaining the shorter song structures to allow for more mainstream accessibility. 

Overall, the blend of styles here are exceptional. Reliqa show a lot of potential at making modern nu metal that is not dated or cringe. If you don't like nu metal because of this, I recommend giving this a try. It might not be for you, but it is a very different style of nu metal than you're used to.

8/10

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Any Given Day – Apocalypse (2024)

4.5/5. Let's start with some d*mn fire with this Any Given Day track!

BOI WHAT – The Both of Us (2024)

4/5. The "Plan Z/Neon Tide" Plankton AI metal saga continues with this song featuring Sandy, stirring up a similar vibe to a more hardcore 2010s Skillet. The animated music video is one of the most epic I've ever seen! And the instrumental bridge is a killer homage to the "Grass Skirt Chase" soundtrack.

Chevelle – Send the Pain Below (2002)

4.5/5. Lots of classic alt-metal wonders from this song that made me understand where bands like Bad Wolves get their sound. Thumbs up for this kind of music!

Coldrain – Miss you (2010)

4/5. This semi-acoustic ballad is where Masato and Sugi take the front stage, the latter bringing his clean/acoustic guitar.

Crossfaith – Godspeed (2024)

4.5/5. Another Japanese alt-metalcore band follows, bringing in the energetic Wargasm for an electrifying banger. And in the same month is Babymetal's collab with Electric Callboy. If all 4 bands can collaborate together, we would have an unstoppable electro-metal alliance!

Dog Fashion Disco – Tastes So Sweet (2014)

5/5. Speaking of Electric Callboy, tone down that band's trance-y dance-y electronics and replace them with the wacky experimentation of Mr. Bungle, and you get this sweet band! Seriously, this band should've been a f***ing lot more popular.

Jeris Johnson – Ode to Metal (2024)

4.5/5. This one is more of an ode to modern metal, but it's still really cool. After starting with a cinematic symphonic intro that would almost make you think it might lead to symphonic metal, the track is actually an alt-metal blend of a Linkin Park-esque rapping verse, a pop punk chorus inspired by A Day To Remember, and a bridge filled with the melodic metalcore of early Avenged Sevenfold and the nu metal of Slipknot, all 4 of those bands paid lyrical tribute to in said chorus.

Jucifer – Hennin Hardine (2006)

5/5. What the Jucifer?! This is noise-filled sludgy alt-metal from a husband-wife duo that sounds absolutely tempting for me! The only other time I've heard of this band is when they guest starred in an unfinished film that was later revamped into Sound of Metal.

Memphis May Fire – Misery (feat. Atreyu) (2023)

4.5/5. Some more d*mn fire coming from another superb collab from Memphis May Fire with Atreyu's Brandon Saller. The vocals by Matty and Brandon really make it all worthwhile. It's amazing how this can please even the more classic metalheads. The chorus and breakdown are both so catchy. If any metalcore fans haven't listened to Memphis May Fire or Atreyu yet, I would recommend doing so right away. This makes almost another perfect highlight for this playlist. It's almost like a mix of Hollywood Undead and Skillet. The lyrics can still be heard clearly in all this vocal distortion.

Nik Nocturnal, Ankor – Unforgiven (2023)

4/5. Nik Nocturnal and Ankor are two of my brother's recent favorite metal musicians. This is a catchy kick-A piece of K-pop metal, and the girl isn't even Korean!

Northlane – Miasma (2024)

4/5. This one has that Obsidian-like blend of electronics and metal, along with another guest vocalist, Parkway Drive's Winston McCall with his own destructive breakdown.

Of Mice & Men – Tether (2023)

4.5/5. Another standout despite its more stripped-down sound for the most part. Pauley's singing slowly ascends until the other members join in for the epic final chorus.

Twelve Foot Ninja – Over and Out (2021)

5/5. This jazzy standout was already in last February's Gateway playlist, but I'll let it slide. It might remind some of Faith No More, features Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer who's known as a beautiful beast of a vocalist in her band. Though her poppy cleans appear here rather than her unclean vocals. And I just wanna say thanks to Twelve Foot Ninja for blessing us with this music before their hiatus.

VOLA – Break My Lying Tongue (2024)

5/5. And voila, one more grand discovery to close this playlist! I love the chorus and the synth melodies here. How in the world have I not heard this band before?!? I need more of this newfound favorite band of mine! They can prove that djent doesn't have to be as all-out brutal as Meshuggah, instead balancing those relentless downtuned guitar rhythms with soothing melodies. This is the kind of direction I want to travel through, and I hope to continue making out those playlist discoveries like a bandit. My alt-/prog metal knowledge shall expand, thanks to playlist owner Saxy.

This is actually the first time I've listened to a full Of Mice & Men album. I've heard singles from the band before and enjoyed some of them, ("Bones Exposed" and "Echo" specifically) and was interested to see how well this band could hold an entire album together.

Once it was finished, I realized why Of Mice & Men have been a singles band. The singles "Castaway", "Indigo" and "Warpaint" are decent, but the remainder of Tether is quite boring actually. It isn't bad, but this band has their feet firmly planted and watered in alternative metalcore and this record does not do much of anything in forcing it to stand out. It feels very redundant of The Devil Wears Prada's Color Decay from 2022. Some of the atmospheric interludes sound good, but the execution can be tedious. I noticed it mostly during the opening verse of "Warpaint" where the vocals are a harsh scream, while the instrumentals are mellow and synthetic; they do not mesh well at all. 

Nothing about Tether makes me want to listen to it again, but if it came on, I wouldn't be bothered by it or skip it on sight. This feels like fast food metalcore; it's quick, easy and tastes good for only a moment, but you know its bad for you and I find myself looking for something with a more cultured palette. 

2.5/5

Here are my thoughts on all selected tracks:

24-7 Spyz – Why (1994)

4/5. Why did this playlist have to start with something so funky? Never mind, this is still great.

Avatar – Make It Rain (2024)

4.5/5. An excellent single from these masters of carnival-ish melodeath/alt-metal!

Bad Omens – Kingdom of Cards (2019)

5/5. This highlight practically starts where the previous Bad Omens album ended with "The Fountain". There isn't any thunderous metal riffing, but it shines with anthemic beauty, a bit like early 2010s Linkin Park but greater (no disrespect to Chester Bennington, RIP). It is a pleasant start to the journey, and I enjoy the vocals by Noah Sebastian.

Cave In – Trepanning (2005)

4.5/5. RIP Caleb Scofield. His screams and bass gave songs like instant memorability. Practically every fan of this band has discovered them when they were in high school, but for me, it was just a couple years before this comment. This f***ing sh*t rocks hard! I especially the groovy bridge midway through. And my first encounter with Caleb's vocals was from his guest appearances with Converge, Isis, and The Ocean. He will truly be missed...

Dog Fashion Disco – Struck By Lightning (2014)

5/5. Some more experimental alt-metal to love from this band that I've also enjoyed for a year or two! Sweet Nothings continues the sound of Adultery, though with not as much consistency in some tracks. You can almost think of this as Five Finger Death Punch gone Infected Mushroom.

Dreamshade – Where My Heart Belongs (2016)

4.5/5. So heavy and beautiful at the same time! Though I find more in common with Bullet for My Valentine when it comes to this band.

Evanescence – Lithium (2006)

4/5. There's a bit of a Queensryche influence in this piano-powered track.

Future Palace – Paradise (2022)

4/5. Another one of those songs my brother likes recently. Nice glitch-ish effect to go with this female-led alt-metal/rock sound.

Linkin Park – QWERTY (2024)

4.5/5. This is a strong standout that I would recommend for fans of the band's heavier work. It sounds like this should've been in The Hunting Party, the only album to not have a song in the Papercuts compilation.

Mushroomhead – Your Demise (2010)

5/5. The vocal contrast stands out the most here between vocalists Waylon Reavis and Jeffrey Hatrix. Topping it all off is excellent soloing by Dave Felton.

Nik Nocturnal, Bad Wolves – Octane (2024)

4.5/5. My brother has also been getting along well the music of Nik Nocturnal. Here's a high-octane collaboration between Nik Nocturnal and Bad Wolves.

Sleep Token – Alkaline (2021)

5/5. Sleep Token are the alt-pop metal secret agents we all need. I'll never f***ing regret this band! Things get spine-chilling when it builds up to the one and a half minute mark with Vessel singing "Oooh, let's talk about chemistry" as the heaviness opens up. There are definitely some similar vibes to 2010s Anathema/Katatonia.

Stuck Mojo – Rising (1998)

4.5/5. Begin this playlist with a funky track, end it with a rap one. But h*ll, this is still quite dope! The heavy chorus has similar vibes to more iconic alt-rock/metal bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. It actually makes my playlist-commenting homework worthwhile. This band can play well for a rap metal one. Meanwhile, the more melodic classic metalheads are having some of the heavy metal of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest and the thrash metal of Metallica and Megadeth in their minds. But I still prefer the heavier groove of Meshuggah, Fear Factory, and Dark Tranquillity, along with the progressiveness of Mastodon, Nevermore, and Opeth that I should revisit someday.

Hey there, Pelle! Here are some albums for you to start diving into Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti's other bands. Saxy, I would recommend these to you as well:

Rex, I recommend giving Dir En Grey a try. They're a band with a lot of style changes, like one minute they're Japanese pop rock and the next they're extreme metal. Their 2008 album Uroboros is what I would recommend the most for the ultimate best of their stylistic experimentation.

I've done my review, here's its summary:

Living Colour has been shaping up the funk metal scene since their 1988 debut album Vivid that includes their Grammy-winning hit, political anthem "Cult of Personality". In the years that followed, even more exposure was inevitable thanks to more popular tour-mates Guns N' Roses and The Rolling Stones, as well as participating in the Lollapalooza tour on its very first year, 1991. Bassist Muzz Skillings left the group before they could start recording their 3rd album Stain. His replacement Doug Wimbish has been known for working with popular musicians like Madonna and Mick Jagger. Bad Brains producer Ron Germain helped show the band's dark heavy side while suitable for the mainstream. The more melodic songs truly stand out here, whether they pack killer punches or crank it down to ballad-ish territory. Though I can do without some of the more experimental tracks, particularly a few oddballs towards the end. With all that said, Stain is a decent funky album with a few standouts, a few mess-ups, and a few in-betweens. Despite its success, the album ceased printing for 20 years due to a lawsuit from the band The Stain, and Living Colour split up due to creative differences. It won't be until a decade after Stain's release when their next offering would occur....

3/5

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Anthrax/Public Enemy – Bring The Noise (1991)

4.5/5. Now here's an interesting way to start this playlist. It's a f***ing hard mix of metal and hip-hop in this Anthrax/Public Enemy collaboration. This can be remembered one of the earliest rap metal songs (besides "I'm the Man") and perhaps one of the earliest hints of nu metal. If anyone thought that Linkin Park/Jay-Z mashup EP Collision Course is the best example of a rock/metal band teaming up with a legendary rapper, Anthrax/Public Enemy had their own thing going on before then.

Bad Omens – Just Pretend (2022)

5/5. This one starts slow, but when the drums and guitars kick in, Noah lets out all of his vocal emotion. The heavier action will keep you on your seat. As awesome as that song is, I'm both surprised and not about this song's presence in TikTok boosting the band's fame.

The Blank Theory – Faded (1998)

4.5/5. The Blank Theory started off as more of a metallic take on indie rock, but they would get heavier by the time of their only full album Beyond the Calm of the Corridor. People seem to really mistake this band for Linkin Park. Probably because this song sounds so Linkin Park-ish and the band name sounds similar to Linkin Park's earlier name, debut EP, and debut album, Hybrid Theory. My brother might be able to play this on guitar, if the tabs ever get released.

BOI WHAT – Funeral of an Antihero (2024)

4/5. Boi What made another song with his Plankton AI voice, this one distancing further from the Spongebob-themed lyrics of his other singles. It's more of a My Chemical Romance-inspired banger. If there ever is a movie to mark the ultimate finale of Spongebob Squarepants, this song would work well for Plankton's redeeming self-sacrifice.

Breaking Benjamin – Break My Fall (2004)

3.5/5. This track combines heavy guitar with Burnley's singing in steady motion. Wonderful, yet nothing else worth writing about there...

Bring Me the Horizon – Teardrops (2020)

4/5. You know Bring Me the Horizon as that band with epic metalcore hits like "It Never Ends". Still their newer alt-metal material like this track sounds pretty great.

Butcher Babies – Lilith (2017)

4.5/5. Another killer respectable track from these cool ladies of extreme alt-metal!

Gravity Kills – Enough (1996)

4/5. Another piece of alt-rock/industrial metal that I love, but still not enough to go further with this band. You can jam out during a long drive! Definitely having some vibes from Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, and a bit KMFDM.

In This Moment – I Would Die For You (2023)

4.5/5. An epic ballad originally in the soundtrack for John Wick: Chapter 4. It reaches a hysterical climax that has really paid off.

Issues – Since I Lost You (2024)

5/5. Seems like Issues stopped their will to go on after they fired clean vocalist Tyler Carter for abuse allegations. This final single has bassist Skyler Acord performing clean vocals, and the band's final shows have Brian Butcher (The Home Team) as their clean vocalist. Adrian "AJ" Rebollo sounds talented in his guitarwork. Let's just hope this pop metal sound the band perfected will live on. Farewell Issues....

Linkin Park – War (2014)

4.5/5. This one is surprisingly closer sounding to Bad Religion, but the stunning punk attack moves on smoothly. For a two-minute song, guitarist Brad Delson has quite some time to pull a fierce solo with Chester Bennington (RIP) playing rhythm guitar to follow his lead (pun somewhat intended).

Sleep Token – Blood Sport (2019)

5/5. One of the most stunning tracks from this band! If I discovered this band a few years ago instead of last year, it would've suited the COVID isolation quite well. The only other band that could sound so emotional in the music and lyrics is Type O Negative. Vessel can really let out his thoughts like he would in other tracks like "Alkaline".

Voice of Baceprot – Testify (Live Session) (2021)

4.5/5. Time to end this playlist with...an Islamic female nu/rap metal cover of a Rage Against the Machine song. RATM Guitarist Tom Morello has certainly influenced aspiring metal musicians all over the globe, including this band from Indonesia (directly South of my country Malaysia), Voice of Baceprot. This cover is quite amazing! Teamwork has been put to the test and it ends well as those girls stand together to revolutionize their unique image. Nicely done!

I've done my review, here's its summary:

It's strange how Mushroomhead is part of the nu/alt-metal pack but has never gained the huge success many of their other peers have gained. Nonetheless, this band has a large fanbase that barely of those other bands have. The dedication fans have for Mushroomhead is a good reason for their 3-decade existence at this point, and why open-minded metalheads, such as myself, have no trouble at all with albums like this one, The Righteous and the Butterfly! Following up from the heavy Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children, the industrial-ish nu/alt-metal blend of brutality and beauty still stands in this album. The Righteous and the Butterfly introduces two new members, guitarist Tommy Church and bassist Ryan "Dr. F" Farrell. Jason "J Mann" Popson returns on vocal duties to make a 3-vocalist lineup (or 4 if including their later vocalist Jackie Laponza who guest appears in one song here). The title pays tribute to two longtime contributors who passed away in the years leading up to this album, former guitarist JJ Righteous and band photographer Vanessa Solowiow (drummer Skinny's wife). RIP... Some tracks look back at the different past eras of Mushroomhead and summarize all that they're known for, while other songs add in different stylistic elements for something new, either way spawning some of my favorite songs from the band such as "Qwerty" (which my brother likes as well) and their cover of Adele's "Rumor Has It". It's no rumor that awesome cover is what got me into this band. Incredible! All in all, Mushroomhead have their strongest album since XIII in The Righteous and the Butterfly, nicely improved from the albums in between. Both longtime fans and newcomers will love this righteous album, essential for any nu/alt-metal fans' collection!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "Our Apologies", "Qwerty", "Portraits of the Poor", "This Cold Reign", "For Your Pleasure", "Out of My Mind", "Rumor Has It"

For fans of: Linkin Park's nu metal albums, Rob Zombie, Slipknot

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Crossfaith – Zero (2024)

5/5. Crossfaith lives again! The strength of their new single is insane.

Dark new Day – Evergreen (2005)

4.5/5. Over a decade ago, my brother was just starting to listen to the hard rock/alt-metal he still likes today. He probably would love this bada** beast of a song that sounds close to Breaking Benjamin. It relates well to the troubles of relationship neglect. Honestly, it would work as a wrestler's entrance theme.

Dead by April – Break My Fall (2024)

5/5. Now this is some hard fire creeping in! It's not related to that Breaking Benjamin song, but it has a similar vibe to that band but heavier.

Demon Hunter – Time Only Takes (2019)

4.5/5. Personally a timeless melodic Demon Hunter classic!

From Ashes to New – Shadows (2016)

4/5. Another beast of a song that I'm sure my brother would enjoy, since there's one From Ashes to New song he likes, which I've submitted to a Gateway playlist a few months back. And there are other songs to like from this playlist too...

In Flames – Clayman (2020 Version)

4.5/5. As if the new In Flames album Foregone isn't already a throwback to the band's melodeath roots, a few years prior, they re-recorded some songs from their 2000 album Clayman as part of a reissue, and that makes me up to one day revisiting the original version.

In This Moment – Standing Alone (2010)

5/5. Another grand banger, as the bass groove and drum fury speed on. It really stands out with the howling and singing contrasting with each other.

Jeris Johnson, BOI WHAT – Battling My Demons (2024)

4.5/5. Jeris Johnson has collaborated with Boi What (known for his AI Plankton voice) for an anthem to battle your inner struggles. Nicely f***ing done!

Karnivool – The Caudal Lure (2010)

4/5. Sounds Awake is more of an alt-prog rock album than metal, but I appreciate this song have some of their earlier TOOL-like sound, just the way I like it.

Nik Nocturnal, Fronzilla – In Da Club (2023)

4.5/5. The result of modern metal YouTuber Nik Nocturnal and Attila vocalist Fronz making their own version of a 50 Cent hit with the violent rage of metal.

Rollins Band – Tearing (1992)

4/5. Another excellent single. It has caused Rollins' work to spread to MTV and metalheads.

Sleep Token – Gods (2019)

4.5/5. "MY F***ING FORM IS BUT A WRECK BENEATH THEM!" The guitar and overall heaviness might remind some of Deftones and Loathe, in contrast with the soft piano and ambience for a diverse mix.

Spineshank – New Disease (2000)

4/5. I remember adding this song to my first ever Sphere playlist two years ago, and I don't mind commenting on it again. The early 2000s was when alternative/industrial metal was on the rise, and when songs like this one were sports video games. I did not like metal during my kiddy years of the 2000s. It wasn't until the 2010s when my metal interest took off. Still this can give fans of this style of metal quite a bit of nostalgia.

Twelve Foot Ninja – Manufacture of Consent (2010)

4.5/5. F***ing great experimental greatness. Enough said!

Yousei Teikoku – Missing (2013)

4/5. An interesting song to end this playlist, with a dark metal equivalent to anime theme music. Great way to head out!

Here's my review:

My initial experiences with California's Rollins Band came through late-night metal radio programming shortly after the release of their 1992 third album "The End of Silence" with songs like "Low Self Opinion", "Tearing" & "You Didn't Need" receiving regular air-time for a good few months there. I remember being struck by just how visceral & aggressive the vocal attack of former Black Flag front man Henry Rollins was & also found myself being impressed by the technical capabilities & general heaviness of his three accompanying musicians. I'd subsequently go about the task of securing myself a dubbed cassette copy of the album from a school mate & would find that the deeper cuts on the album would offer me even more appeal, so much so that I'd find myself obsessing over the album & developing somewhat of a man crush on Henry which would only be exacerbated by my experiences at my first Rollins Band live show at Manly Youth Centre shortly afterwards. As good as Rollins Band may be on record, I can assure you that they went to another level altogether in a live environment with Henry performing in just a little pair of black shorts with his ripped physique & incredible intensity being something that I hadn't experienced before or since. I spent a good portion of their set stage-diving into the swarming mass of euphoric youth in front of the stage but, unfortunately for me, towards the end of the show that swirling sea of testosterone would part just as I dived from the stage which would see me landing very heavily on the hard concrete floor with my arm left feeling that I may have broken it, a fact that was not lost on Henry. After the end of the final song, he would go out of his way to find me & we'd have a discussion that would end with me buying him a drink. I'll never forget how intense & intimidating he was yet he also put me at ease with his confidence & humility. He rejected my offer of an alcoholic beverage & told me that he didn't touch drugs or alcohol. In fact, I think he was already a vegan at the time & his ripped body was clearly his temple. He told me that he couldn't understand why a good-looking young dude like myself would bother to come & see his little band play when he would have been out chasing tail if he was in my shoes & we shared a laugh. It was an experience that I'll never forget & I still hold a great deal of admiration for Henry & enjoy listening to his stories through his spoken-word performances to this day. As for Rollins Band, I'd follow them into their 1994 fourth album "Weight" which was also very strong & would see me once again attending the supporting tour but we'd part ways after that & I haven't heard any of the four records that followed.

"The End of Silence" is a huge record in many ways. It's class & consistency is impeccable with none of the ten tracks ever hinting at being filler. The production is thick & heavy with each of the band members proving themselves to be masters of their chosen instruments, coming together to create some of the tightest grooves you'll find. Despite that though, I'd suggest that Rollins Band's metal credentials weren't all that straight forward as they brought together a number of different sounds but presented the sum of their influences in such a professional & full-realised packaging that it pretty much becomes irrelevant as to what genre they should rightfully sit under. If I had to describe the sound of "The End of Silence" though, I'd suggest that they bring together the post-hardcore edge of Helmet, the doomy alternative metal of Soundgarden & the stoner rock grooves of Queens Of The Stone Age with an undeniable Black Sabbath influence &, even if that may not amount to a metal record overall, I'm not gonna argue the point because it's really a moot point in the grand scheme of things as there's really no doubt that fans of alternative metal will dig "The End of Silence".

The tracklisting begins in very solid fashion with the three big singles all sitting within the first four songs. Little will your average alternative radio-listener know that the real gold is still ahead of them though as Rollins Band were at their best when they went in more expansive directions with the longer tracks allowing them the freedom to fully flex their undeniably impressive muscles. The brilliant twelve minute "Blues Jam" has always been the centrepiece for me personally & it still feels like the perfect representation of what the band were trying to achieve to this day but it's closely followed by "Almost Real" & "What Do You Do" which were both clear anthems for my youth too. While the more up-tempo inclusions like "Tearing" & "Another Life" may seem to be a little less significant than the more drawn-out material, repeat listens see them opening up & digging their teeth in quite deeply which sees the depth in the tracklisting solidifying into an impressive wall of sonic expression.

It surprises me that "The End of Silence" isn't more highly praised to be honest as time has seen it losing none of its impact. The ambiguous nature of its sound also sees it presenting a significant amount of crossover appeal too as it offers just as much to the alternative rock radio audience as it does to the metal scene. The passion that Henry puts into his music is never in doubt but he's definitely challenged for the spotlight by the wonderful bass guitar performance of Jello Biafra, Pigface & Ween bassist Andrew Weiss whose gut-tearing wah-pedal-infused basslines play as major a part in the overall impact of "The End of Silence" as Henry's vocals do. This is rock music at its most potent & visceral & it acts as a reminder of what rock & roll formerly aspired to be but so rarely ends up being in 2024. I'd suggest that "The End of Silence" should be essential listening for all members of The Gateway.

4.5/5

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Alien Weaponry – Titokowaru (2021)

5/5. The opening track of its original album and this playlist starts with some Maori warriors chanting while rowing their boat over stormy seas. Then the storm becomes pummeling as fast riff groove comes in. The verses have a simple melody that pushes along like when those warriors push their oars, as the seas have different layers. It also fits well for a gym workout. An excellent boat-rower!

Biohazard – These Eyes (Have Seen) (1996)

4.5/5. These ears haven't heard before an amazing blended of Pantera groove with rapping. Pretty cool, right?

Demon Hunter – Revolutions (2022)

4.5/5. Then enters this rebellious track, ranging in vocal variety, battling between the screaming empire and the soft-singing rebellion.

Imminence – Death by a Thousand Cuts (2023)

5/5. Another f***ing banger from this band I should listen to more of. G****mn, I look forward to their new album The Black!

Karnivool – Mauseum (2005)

5/5. The heaviness builds up again with this slower highlight that I found a few years before the rest of this band's material.

Katatonia – Lethean (2012)

4.5/5. One of the nicest songs from this band!

Sleep Token – The Offering (2019)

5/5. It's so incredible how perfectly the vocals, guitars, and drums can flow from anger to despair at ease. Discovering this band via their new album Take Me Back to Eden was a pleasant experience, and songs from their other albums like this one make me want more.

Spotlights – Crawling Toward the Light (2023)

4.5/5. Then we have the ominous experimentation again with this band, this time with a similar vibe to Madder Mortem.

Type O Negative – Anesthesia (2003)

4/5. RIP Peter Steele. This was what I enjoyed when I was still highly in the gothic metal zone. The bass and synths shine well here. Though I still prefer upbeat power of songs like "I Don't Wanna Be Me".

Ugly Kid Joe – Sweet Leaf/Funky Fresh Country Club (1991)

4.5/5. This playlist ends with two over 7-minute covers of classic heavy metal songs, the first of which doing the original Sabbath song justice despite adding more funk and the vocals of Whitfield Crane sounding a bit nasal.

Waltari – Infinite Dreams (2011)

5/5. And here's the other cover, perhaps the best Maiden cover I've heard! It's part of a special covers album to celebrate the band's 25 anniversary. The band really lets out their influences here, often sounding like Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath and Metallica, while throwing in some... Johnny Cash-like country?!? And melodeath?!?! Now that's wild! Kärtsy Hatakka is a true genius.